How to Buy a New Projector

If you are looking to buy a new projector for a classroom, meeting room or home theater, the image you project on the screen should make a great impression on your audience. Researching projectors can be confusing, with many acronyms and technological terms. Our projector guide will help answer common questions regarding terminology, features and other important considerations when you are choosing a projector.

Color Brightness and White Brightness (Lumens)

Projectors come in a wide range of brightness which are measured in lumens. The brighter the projector the higher the lumen rating, and, all else being equal, the more it will likely cost.

Contrast Ratio

Contrast ratio is the difference between light and dark on a screen, expressed by a number. If you take the brightest white on a screen and the darkest black and compare the luminosity, you get the contrast ratio. For example, a 1000:1 contrast ratio means that the brightest white is 1000x brighter than the darkest black.

Resolution

Resolution is the number of dots or pixels used to display an image. Higher resolutions mean that more pixels are used to create the image, resulting in a crisper, cleaner image. High resolution is important for projecting detailed charts and graphs, text, and high-definition video. The resolution is indicated by a number combination such as 1920 x 1200. This indicates that there are 1920 dots horizontally across the display by 1200 lines of dots vertically, equaling 2,304,000 total dots that make up the image seen on the screen.

Connections

Interactivity

Epson's interactive projectors make a table or almost any wall interactive. The projector and pen combination give you interactive functionality in one package without the constraints or expense of a separate interactive whiteboard.

Throw Distance and Positioning

The projector position and the size of the image will depend upon the room configuration. Therefore, you will need to consider the throw distance and the projector features that will give you flexibility in placement.

Networking

Monitor & Control

Epson's monitor and control capability helps make projector maintenance convenient and easy. Benefits of using this feature include having remote access and management of Epson-networked projectors, saving you valuable time and money.

Installation Projector Advanced Features

Product Support and Reliability

Reliability and the cost to operate your projector depend on one main factor: lamp maintenance. Look for a projector with a long lamp life; at least 3,000 hours is preferred, and about 5,000 hours is typical.

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